Page:History of India Vol 1.djvu/100

70 sun, and Surya, the bright sun of day. The golden rays of the sun were naturally compared with arms, until a story found its place in Hindu mythology that Savitri lost his arm at a sacrifice and that it was replaced by a golden arm.

The only extract we will make from the hymns to the sun will be that most celebrated of the many stanzas in the Rig-Veda, the Gayatri, or the morning hymn of the later Brahmans. It is found in the third book and runs as follows:—

Tat savitur varenyam Bhargo devasya dhimahi Dhiyo yo nah prachodayat. "We meditate on the desirable light of the divine Savitri who influences our pious rites."

Pushan is the sun as viewed by shepherds in their wanderings in quest of fresh pasture-lands, and the hymns in his honour are all pastoral in their tone. He travels in a chariot yoked with goats, guides men and cattle in their travels and migrations, and knows and protects the flocks. Vishnu has obtained such a prominent place as the Supreme Deity in later Hinduism that there is a natural reluctance among orthodox mod-